New Technique to Preserve Blood
The Malaysian Health Ministry, via the National Blood Bank, has begun implementing a technology to preserve blood reserves for up to 10 years, its minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said. [The Star Press Release]

“Good” Cells can Go “Bad” in a “Bad Neighborhood”
Researchers report that normal blood stem cells “are dependent upon their environment. They get their cues from the surrounding ‘neighborhood’ of bone cells,” says Scadden, co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and director of the MGH Center for Regenerative Medicine. [Press release from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute discussing the online prepublication in Nature]

CryoLife Withdraws Its Proposal to Acquire MedaforCryoLife, Inc. announced that it has withdrawn its $2.00 per share proposal to acquire Medafor, Inc. CryoLife previously notified the Medafor board of its intention to withdraw its offer in five business days. [CryoLife, Inc. Press Release]

Carl Wieman Chosen for White House Science Post
Physicist Carl Wieman has been picked to be associate director for science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. [Office of Science and Technology Policy, United States]

Japan Maps Out Big Science Plans
For the first time ever, Japanese scientists have produced a roadmap of where they see major research programs heading in the mid-term, about 10 years out, and a list of large-scale facilities they will need to get there. [Science Council of Japan, Japan]